Apparatus for applying paint to paint rollers



Nov. 12, 1968 D. M. GRAF 3,409,931

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING PAINT TO PAINT ROLLERS Original Filed Jan, 18, 1965 INVENTOR. Dun/v5 M Gen/- United States Patent 3,409,931 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING PAINT TO PAINT ROLLERS Duane M. Graf, 2257 Maple, Costa Mesa, Calif. 92627 Continuation of application Ser. No. 426,240, Jan. 18, 1965. This application Jan. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 699,271 Claims. (Cl. 257.06)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A paint roller loading apparatus having a sheet-like applicator element formed from a screen material and which element is in the form of a substantial portion of a hollow cylinder. The applicator element is pivotally mounted in a paint containing container, about a horizontal axis which is substantially coincident with the axis of the applicator element. The applicator element having a first position wherein the applicator element is at least partially immersed in the paint in the container and a lever operated arm mounted on the pivot means for pivoting the applicator element about its axis to a second position wherein the immersed portion is exposed above the paint in the container.

This application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 426,240, filed Jan. 18, 1965, for Apparatus and Method for Applying Paint to Paint Rollers.

This invention relates to an apparatus for applying metered quantities of paint to paint rollers.

In conventional apparatus for applying paint to paint rollers, the roller is at least partially immersed in a body of the paint to be applied. This results in numerous wellknown disadvantages, among which are the following:

(a) The roller becomes excessively saturated, so that dripping results during movement of the roller to the surface to be coated.

(b) A substantial amount of time is wasted in attempting to partially unsaturate or wring the roller for the purpose of preventing dripping of paint therefrom.

(c) When the roller is rolled on the surface to be coated, streaking occurs at each end of the roller, which necessitates an excessive amount of rolling and re-rolling in order to remove the streaks.

(d) Paint frequently enters the inside of the roller, thus increasing the difiiculty of the roller-cleaning operation.

Various prior-art workers have attempted to eliminate some of the above-specified disadvantages of the immersion-type method (and apparatus) for applying paint to paint rollers. However, such workers have not been successful in achieving a fast-operating apparatus and method for metering the optimum quantity of paint onto desired regions of a paint roller in a minimum amount of time, and thus eliminating all of the disadvantages specified above.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which effect rapid application to the paint roller of the desired amount of paint or texture material.

A further object is to provide an apparatus for elim inating dripping, and eliminating streaking of walls, particularly by paint dripping or oozing from the ends of the roller.

An additional object is to provide an apparatus for preventing the paint from entering the center or inside portion of the roller, so that the roller may be readily cleaned subsequent to use.

3,409,931 Patented Nov. 12, 1968 ice An additional object is to provide a paint-applicator apparatus which is readily cleaned after use, and which may be power driven or manually operated by either the hand or the foot of the painter.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE -1 is a perspective view illustrating the apparatus for applying paint to paint rollers, a portion of the container being broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view of such apparatus, and showing in phantom lines the position assumed by the paint-applying cradle after the operator has actuated the same;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic view illustrating the linkage employed to elfect actuation of the cradle;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the relationship between a paint roller and the paint-applying portion of the cradle, the cradle illustrated in FIGURE 4 being constructed differently than that of FIGURES 1-3 in order to meter a different quantity of paint onto the roller; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the apparatus as adapted for hand operation as distinguished from foot operation.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, the apparatus comprises a container or vessel 10 adapted to be partially filled with paint or texture material 11, cradle means 12 incorporating a paint-applicator element 13 adapted to emerge from paint 11 into actuating contact with a paint roller 14 in order to apply a metered quantity of paint thereto, and means I15 to actuate the cradle means 12 through a predetermined distance. The paintapplicator element 13 is removably mounted in the remaining portions of cradle means 12, so that it may be replaced by other applicator elements so constructed that movement of the cradle means through the predetermined distance changes the quantity of paint transferred onto roller 14.

The container or vessel 10 is generally semi-cylindrical in shape, having an open or uncovered top which is maintained in upwardly-facing relationship by means of suitable legs 17. The container may be formed of sheet metal, for example, or may be molded of plastic. The legs 17 are adapted with return-'bent portions 18 for mounting on suitable support or scaffold.

The cradle means 12 includes, in addition to the replaceable paint-applicator element 13, a suitable supporting frame. The illustrated frame has a U-shaped upper portion 19 to the base of which are secured (in spaced, parallel relationship) a plurality of arcuate applicatorsupporting and roller-guide portions 20. The radius of each portion 20 is somewhat smaller than that of the semi-cylindrical container 10, so that such portions 20 may be maintained in spaced relationship from the bottom wall of the container 10 but generally coaxial therewith.

The ends of the arms of the U-shaped frame portion 19 are rigidly connected to a horizontal axle 21 which is generally coincident with the axis of container 10. The ends of axle 21 are rotatably mounted in the end walls of container 10, so that the axle may form part of the cradle-actuating means 15 to be described subsequently.

As illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4, the paint-applicator elements preferably comprise screens having different sizes, types and numbers of openings therethrough. Thus, the screen 13 shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 has a generally diamond-shaped pattern, being adapted to provide a predetermined metered quantity of paint 11 onto roller 14 in response to shifting of the cradle 12 through a predetermined distance by actuator means 15. A second screen, indicated at 13a in FIGURE 4, has much fewer and/or smaller openings and is therefore adapted to apply a substantially larger quantity of paint to roller 14 during shifting of the cradle through the predetermined distance.

Various other paint-applicator elements are provided, and are respectively constructed to transfer different quantities of paint. Such elements may have different surface characteristics, etc., as well as (or instead of) different Openings.

The paint-applicator elements 13, 13a, etc, are readily mounted on and demounted from the frame of the cradle, for example by means of pivotally-mounted ears or lugs 22 which are provided on the arcuate frame portions 20. Such elements may be pivoted about axes 23 between the illustrated positions (at which the screens are secured to the cradle frame) and positions at which the screen is free for removal and substitution of another screen. The remaining edge of each screen 13 and 13a, etc., is also suitably secured to the frame in removabl relationship, for example by being hooked beneath the base of the U-shaped frame portion 19 as shown in FIGURE 2.

It is pointed out that the edge of screen 13 adjacent mounting ears 22 is immersed in the paint 11 when the cradle is in the illustrated normal position, prior to operation of the actuating means 15. Thus, such screen edge and the remaining portion of the screen will emerge from the paint in response to pivoting of the cradle between the solid-line and phantom-line positions shown in FIG- URE 2. The portions of arcuate elements 20 which are diametrically opposite the base of U-shaped frame portion 19 may be termed guide portions in that they insure that the roller is in proper position for contact by the paintcoated screen 13 as it thus emerges. Such portions project upwardly from the surface of paint 11, being particularly adapted to be engaged by the roller 14 when the handle 24 of such roller is supported (FIGURE 2) on axle 21 and also on a rim of lip portion 26 of the container.

The length of the container is only slightly greater than the length of the paint roller 14 for which the present apparatus is adapted. As illustrated in FIGURE 4, each screen 13, 13a, etc., is somewhat narrower than the length of the roller 14, so that the end portions of such roller 14 will not be contacted by the paint-applicator 13, 13a. The resulting application of paint to only the intermediate portion of the paint roller 14, and not to the extreme ends thereof, is a feature of the present method and apparatus because it results in the prevention of dripping and oozing of paint from the roller ends prior to and during movement of the roller 14 along a wall or other surface to be coated. The result is that there are no streaks on such wall, and accordingly no I necessity for the excessive rolling now required to eliminate such streaks.

Proceeding next to a description of the actuating means 15, this is illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3 to comprise a foot-operated linkage on the general order of parallelogram-type linkage. Stated more specifically, the linkage comprises cranks 27 which are fixedly connected to each end of axle 21, outwardly adjacent the end walls of container 10. To such cranks are connected the ends of a U-shaped actuating link 28, the center or base portion of such link being adapted to be engaged by the foot of the operator as is indicated at 29 in FIGURE 2.

The remaining portions of the actuating means comprise intermediate links 31 (one such link adjacent each end of the container) which are pivotally connected at 32 to the container ends and at 33 to intermediate portions of the arms of actuating link 28. Such intermediate links 31 are shown as being substantially longer than are the cranks 27.

Means are provided to bias the actuating means to a predetermined position at which the applicator screens 13, 130, etc., are ready for emergence from the paint 11. Such bias means are illustrated to comprise helical tension springs 34 which are bent into U-shape, having central portions which are hooked over extensions 35 of the ends of rim of lip 26. The ends of the springs are connected, respectively, to intermediate portions of cranks 31 and actuating link 28.

The springs 34 bias the actuating means 15 to such position that the U-shaped cradle portion 19 engages a stop 36 which is suitably mounted on the container rim 26. Upon pressing the actuating link 28 by the foot 29 or hand of the operator, the linkage shifts to the phantom-line position shown in FIGURE 3 and causes sufficient pivoting of cranks 27 that the cradle 12 is shifted to the phantom-line position shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. Such pivoting or rotational movement ceases when the inner ends of actuating link 28 engage suitable stops such as nuts 37 which are mounted on the ends of the axle 21. Alternatively, suitable stops may be mounted beneath link 28 on the legs for the container. In any event, the amount of pivotal movement is sufficient to cause driving of the roller 14 through at least one revolution by the paint-applicator screen 13, so that the entire surface of the roller (except at the ends) is coated or saturated with paint.

It is to be understood that the linkage which is provided at the end of the apparatus not shown in FIGURE 1 is identical to that provided at the end which is shown in FIGURE 1.

Referring next to FIGURE 5, the foot-operated linkage is replaced by a suitable crank 38 which is connected to axle 21 and is biased by a tension spring 39. Such crank may be operated by the hand of the pointer to provide the above-described pivotal movement between the position at which stop 36 is engaged and the position at which a stop element 41 on th container end is engaged, such position corresponding to the one shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 3.

Summary of operation Stated generally, the operation comprises causing emergence of a paint-applicator screen from a body of paint and into contact with a paint roller, the relationship being such that the roller is driven by the screen so that paint is transferred from the screen to the roller. The screen is caused to be narrower than the roller, so that the end portions of the roller are not saturated with paint. The paint-applicator (such as the screen) is caused to shift through a predetermined distance, so that the quantity of paint transferred to the roller from the screen varies with the characteristics of the screen. Different types of screens are then employed to effect transfer of predetermined, metered quantities of paint onto the roller.

In practicing the operation with the apparatus illustrated in FIGURES 1-4, a paint-applicator screen 13 is first mounted onto the cradle frame, by means of the pivotally-mounted ears 22 as stated above. The selected screen 13 is one which is known to transfer a desired quantity of the paint 11 onto the roller 14. The proper screen is empirically selected, different screens 13, 13a, etc., being employed for different types of jobs, etc., and in accordance with other factors (such as the type and viscosity of the paint).

After the screen 13 (or other screen) is in mounted condition, the container is filled with paint 11 to approximately the level illustrated in FIGURE 2. Thereafter, the painter holds the roller in such position that it engages the upwardly-projecting ends of arcuate or guide portions 20, as shown in FIGURE 2, the handle 24 of the roller being preferably supported on the elements 21 and 26.

It is then merely necessary to press downwardly on the actuating link 28 to thus pivot the cradle 12 to the position shown in phantom lines in FIGURES 2 and 3. During such pivotal movement, the roller 14 is rotated about its axis due to contact with the moving elements 20 and 13, and the entire surface of the roller (except adjacent the ends thereof) is coated or saturated with the paint 11.

In the described manner, a predetermined quantity of paint is applied to the roller 14 in a very few seconds. There is no necessity for any squeezing, and no possibility that the roller will drip either prior or subsequent to engagement with the surface to be coated. It will be understood that by using various types of paint-applicator elements 13, and in some cases by operating the actuating means a plurality of times, any desired metered quantity of paint may be applied to the roller 14.

It will be understood that paint never engages the ends of the roller, and thus does not enter the roller. It follows that cleaning of the roller is greatly simplified.

After painting has been completed, excess paint 11 is poured out of the container 10, following which a small amount of thinner is placed in the container. Such thinner cleans the paint-applicator element 13 and associated cradle components. It is pointed out that no auxiliary pans or vessels are required for the cleaning operation.

It is pointed out that the roller 14 may be caused to engage the exterior or convex side of the paint-applicator 13, instead of the interior or concave side. In such instances, the screen is provided below the frame portions (when such portions are in the solid-line positions shown in FIGURE 2) instead of above the same. It is, however, preferred to employ the apparatus in the manner described above, the roller engaging the concave applicator surface.

It is emphasized that the apparatus is highly compact when in the normal (solid-line) condition, prior to actuation, so that it is readily stored or shipped.

The term pain as employed herein, comprehends not only conventional paints and enamels but also varnish, epoxy resin, lacquer, and similar substances.

One feature of the present apparatus is that the paint is transferred to the roller immediately upon emergence of the screen from the body of paint. Accordingly, and because there is then but little time for the paint to drain from the screen into the body of paint, large quantities of paint can (if desired) be transferred to the roller with only a single movement of the screen.

The saturated roller may, if desired, be left in place as the screen is immersed into the body of paint. This produces a desirable spreading of the paint to various parts of the roller.

It is to be understood that, in order to achieve accurate metering, the screen is normally caused to emerge from the body of paint at the same speed during each paintapplying operation. Complete uniformity may be attained by driving the screen with a constant-speed motor instead of manually.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for coating a paint roller with paint, which comprises:

a container adapted to contain paint,

a sheet-like paint-applicator element which is a substantial portion of a hollow cylinder,

said paint-applicator element being much less than a complete hollow cylinder whereby a paint roller may readily contact the concave interior surface of said paint-applicator element, means to rotatably mount said paint-applicator element in said container in such position that the axis of said paint-applicator element is generally horizontal,

said mounting means for said paint-applicator element being such that said paint-applicator element may rotate from a first and relatively depressed position, at which at least part of said paint-applicator element is immersed in said paint, to .a second and relatively elevated posi tion at which at least a substantial part of said paint-applicator element is emerged from said paint, and

actuating means to rotate said paint-applicator element about said generally horizontal axis from said first and relatively depressed position to said second and relatively elevated position, whereby paint may be transferred from said paint-applicator element to said roller upon emergence of said element from said paint.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which guide means are provided to locate said roller, while said paintapplicator element is in said first position, in the proper location for driving by said paint-applicator element as said element moves from said first position toward said second position.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2, in which said guide means comprises arcuate guide elements projecting upwardly from the leading edge of said paint-applicator element.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said container is open-topped and receives said paint-applicator element in nested relationship when said element is in said first position, and in which said actuating means is responsive to a single actuating movement by an extremity of an operator to shift said paint-applicator element from said first position to said second position and no further, and to reverse direction and thus return said paint-applicator element from said second position to said first position upon withdrawal of such extremity.

5. Apparatus for coating a paint roller with paint, which comprises:

a container adapted to contain paint,

a sheet-like paint-applicator element which is a substantial portion of a hollow cylinder,

said paint-applicator element being much less than a complete hollow cylinder whereby a paint roller may readily contact the concave interior surface of said paint-applicator element, means to pivotally support said paint-applicator element in said container in such position that the central axis of said paint-applicator element is generally horizontal,

said support means for said paint-applicator element being such that said paint-applicator element may pivot from a first and relatively depressed position, at which at least part of said paint-applicator element is immersed in said paint, to a second and relatively elevated position at which at least a substantial part of said paint-applicator element is emerged from said paint, and

actuating means to pivot said paint-applicator element about a generally horizontal pivot axis from said first and relatively depressed position to said second and relatively elevated position, whereby paint may be transferred from said paint-applicator element to said roller upon emergence of said element from said paint,

said pivot axis of said paint-applicator element extending in the same direction as said central axis thereof.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 5, in which said central axis of said paint-applicator element is substantially coincident with said pivot axis thereof.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 5, in which said container is open-topped and receives said paint-applicator element in nested relationship when said element is in said first position, and in which said actuating means is responsive to a single actuating movement by an extremity of an operator to shift said paint-applicator element from said first position to said second position and no further, and to permit return of said paint-applicator element from said second position to said first position upon withdrawal of such extremity.

8. The invention as claimed in claim 7, in which said paint-applicator element is a screen.

9. The invention as claimed in claim 7, in which said open-topped container is shaped as a substantial portion of a hollow cylinder the axis of which extends in the same direction as said central axis of said paint-applicator element, in which said paint-applicator element is adjacent and substantially concentric with the wall of said container when in said first position, and in which the diameter of said paint-applicator element has the same gen eral magnitude as that of said hollow cylinder-shaped container.

10. The invention as claimed in claim '9, in which said container has return-bent legs shaped for mounting on a scaffold.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 2/1954 France.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner. 

